WNAM REPORT: The International Conference and Training Workshop on “Food Systems Transformation for Climate Actions” (ICTW-FSTCA 2025) was inaugurated today at Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda, under the COMSTECH Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration (CFEER). The event is jointly organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (OIC-COMSTECH), the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Makerere University, with in-kind support from the Islamic University in Uganda.
Distinguished guests attending the inaugural session included H.E. Mr. Muhammad Hassan Wazir, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Uganda; H.E. Professor Barnabas Nawangwe, Vice Chancellor of Makerere University; Dr. Rosie Agoi, Secretary General of the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO/ICESCO; and Dr. M. Sharif, Advisor for Science and Technology at ICESCO.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General OIC-COMSTECH, warmly welcomed participants from across the OIC region and beyond, commending Makerere University for hosting this important event. He noted that the workshop has participation from more than twenty-seven OIC member and observer states, including Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and several others. The event aims to strengthen knowledge exchange and collaboration on sustainable food systems, climate action, and agricultural innovation.
Prof. Choudhary highlighted that the training program focuses on key thematic areas such as biomimicry and eco-literacy, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable food systems, energy in agriculture, and nutrition and health. He emphasized the crucial role of science, technology, and innovation in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to food security, environmental sustainability, and economic resilience.
Drawing from his personal experience, Prof. Choudhary shared insights from his visit to the Songhai Center in West Africa, which he described as a living example of “science at work,” where nature’s perfection combined with human ingenuity to address food insecurity, resource depletion, and climate challenges.
He further elaborated on the establishment of the COMSTECH Forum on Environment and Ecosystem Restoration (CFEER) in 2022, which aims to foster South-South and triangular cooperation among OIC member states on climate change, biodiversity, the food-water-energy nexus, and ecosystem restoration. The forum operates within the framework of the Paris Climate Agreement, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030).
Prof. Choudhary reaffirmed COMSTECH’s commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and networking among stakeholders, promoting science, technology, and innovation for environmental sustainability, enhancing training and capacity-building programs, and developing adaptable solutions to meet challenges in climate change adaptation and ecosystem restoration. He also underlined COMSTECH’s dedication to establishing partnerships and collaborative initiatives that can contribute to environmental protection and sustainable agricultural practices across the OIC region.
He concluded his remarks by expressing confidence that this workshop will inspire participants to become future leaders in green entrepreneurship and sustainable agriculture, advancing the shared vision of a resilient, food-secure, and sustainable OIC region.
The three-day conference and training workshop will continue until October 30, 2025, featuring expert lectures, interactive discussions, and capacity-building sessions led by international specialists in sustainable food systems and climate action.
